1 . When it comes to big dreams, goals and aspirations, many of us plan out every last detail so that we feel ready for success. But sometimes, this excessive planning is a way of protecting ourselves from _________ and ultimately preventing us from ever taking action. No matter how much planning you do, you’ll never feel 100% ready to take a leap of faith into the _________ . So the most important is that we     _______ before we’re ready and we learn while doing.

When Jennifer Qiao got married, she struggled to_________a modern version of a cheongsam (旗袍), so an idea was _______ . She wanted to make cheongsams. Neither she nor Vivian Chan, her co-founder, had _______ in fashion or entrepreneurship. They didn’t even know if there was a(n)_______ for their product in the US. The two _______ a Shopify website with one dress _______ over the weekend. After one month, they __________ their first customer. They never truly felt ready to start a(n) ________ , let alone make custom wedding dresses.________ , they have been able to________their team and company to a seven-figure annual recurring revenue.

“Once you get one good idea, you have to act on it because it may never________again. The time was __________. Even if I wasn’t ready, the situation was ready.” Jennifer Qiao said.

1.

A．carelessness

B．error

C．difficulty

D．failure

2.

A．future

B．life

C．unknown

D．danger

3.

A．appear

B．stay

C．leave

D．start

4.

A．make

B．find

C．appreciate

D．invent

5.

A．refused

B．changed

C．born

D．accepted

6.

A．experience

B．friends

C．interest

D．achievements

7.

A．possibility

B．example

C．buyer

D．market

8.

A．bought

B．created

C．found

D．improved

9.

A．show

B．design

C．photo

D．outline

10.

A．got

B．satisfied

C．needed

D．cheated

11.

A．campaign

B．business

C．mission

D．job

12.

A．However

B．Besides

C．Therefore

D．Otherwise

13.

A．move

B．grow

C．increase

D．extend

14.

A．rise

B．exist

C．happen

D．return

15.

A．ripe

B．hard

C．limited

D．valuable

2 . What brings you happiness?     1     Instead of just focusing on getting your wants, ifs much easier to find happiness by ridding yourself of the things that don't serve a beneficial purpose. Here are things you should let go of if you want to lead a happy life.

Pride isn't necessarily a terrible thing. It can bring you confidence and self-assurance, which are two great qualities that can help you lead a happy life.     2     It's essential to keep your pride in check and get rid of any overload that is no longer serving you.

    3     It often arises from judgment or criticism of yourself and other people. It causes unhappiness and becomes a burden on your life. As long as you are the most honest and authentic version of yourself, no one has the right to judge you for it and that goes for you, too.

When you think about addiction, you might think of alcohol or drug addiction. But there are countless other forms of addiction, too. You could be addicted to work, sugar, video games, drama, or even a harmful relationship.     4     If you want to be happier, think about dropping your addictions.

It's also important to recognize that leaving your comfort zone is a good, although often unwanted idea. If you never leave your comfort zone, you'll never grow. Even though something can make you feel uncomfortable at first, it will benefit you in the long run.     5    

A．If you're in this situation, you,ll be much happier.

B．Always keep in mind that self-doubt has no benefits.

C．Drop the belief that your past will always be better than the future.

D．Whatever your desire is, it will always be a barrier to your happiness.

E．Many people believe if they fulfilled their desires, they would be satisfied.

F．However, your extreme pride can ruin your personal and professional relationships.

G．Ultimately, you'll expand your horizons on who you can be and what you can achieve.

3 . The idea that having narrow local focus leaves little room for anything but a selfish mindset is a misconception, according to a new study that found that concern for local affairs could help with global environmental conservation.

You might have heard of NIMBY which means “not in my back yard” and describes an individual or group opposed to a new addition to the neighborhood, typically a factory, roadway or power station. Nimbyism and parochialism(眼界狭小), which is a focus on a local area,   can go hand in hand, and there are concerns that parochialism paves the way for prejudice, narrowmindedness, and selfishness.

But researchers found the exact opposite to be true in a new study published. The researchers argue that positive parochialism can inspire a larger awareness of global environmental problems and encourage people to action.

“We did not find evidence that parochialism was necessarily negative and inward -looking,” said Patrick, a researcher for the study. “It can be those things, but there's no necessary conflict between feeling connected to your local area and feeling connected to the wider world. ”

For the study, the researchers reviewed documents from the 1987 Parish Maps project. The researchers showed how the Parish Maps project also demonstrated a passion for the environment and conservation. The researchers say that the Parish Maps project is a strong example of “positive parochialism”, and shows that thinking locally can influence a global mindset.

“For a long time,   it has been generally agreed that if we want people to think about global affairs they need an international worldview-but this may not be the case,” said Patrick. “Given where we are now in terms of trying to encourage people to make changes to help the environment, positive parochialism offers something that has been overlooked.”

1. Which behavior can best illustrate NIMBY?

A．Criticizing a friend for his selfish action.

B．Accepting a proposal beneficial to locals.

C．Supporting a neighborhood construction plan.

D．Objecting to building an airport in the neighborhood.

2. Why does the author mention the Parish Maps project?

A．To explain how to protect the environment.

B．To offer an example of positive parochialism.

C．To encourage people to take part in the project.

D．To stress the importance of global mindset.

3. How does Patrick feel about “positive parochialism phenomenon”?

A．Appreciative.

B．Cautious.

C．Negative.

D．Puzzled.

4. What may be the best title for the text?

A．Parochialism, a better practice?

B．International view, more popular?

C．Thinking locally, acting globally

D．Bigger thinking, better environment

4 . 阅读下面短文,根据所给情节进行续写,使之构成一个完整的故事。

I went up to the roof for a break after studying for an hour and watched the 50 or so people swimming in the natural rock pool below our house. It was a sunny day--a blue, cloudless sky over a calm sea. But then, as I looked in the distance, I discovered three or four big waves heading towards the shore. I'd seen these mini-tsunamis(海啸) many times before. They were heading at speed in the direction of the pool. Most people knew how to look out for them, but from the screams that started coming from the beach, I could tell someone was in trouble.

Without thinking, I ran down into the street, holding my body board(俯伏冲浪板) on the way and shouted at a stranger to go inside my house and call the coastguard. My neighbor Moises had heard the screaming as well and was also outside with his body board, so together we rushed to the steps that led down to the sea.

Once we got closer, we discovered the waves had pulled a boy and a girl from the pool and into the open sea. I knew that the nearest boat would take at least 30 minutes to reach us. Waiting for help wasn't a choice. I wasn't used to this sort of emergency--I’d never been trained as a lifeguard-but I didn't think twice about trying to save them. I supposed in a way I wanted to impress everyone: at 19, a deal like that can seem like a good opportunity to show off.

Moises and I dived into the water and it took us 10 minutes to get to them. When we finally reached them, they were almost lifeless with only their heads coming in and out of the water. We could tell they were still alive from their small breaths but it was clear they wouldn't have been able to stay there much longer. I held the boy and pulled him over my board. Moises moved the girl onto his board. We discussed pushing them back to the shore, but we were too far out.

注意：
1.所续写的短文词数应为150左右；
2.续写部分分为两段,每段的开头语已为你写好；
Paragraph 1:

We had to wait.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2:

That night, word came from the hospital that the two people were in good condition.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5 . A Singular Definition of Beauty

The mainstream beauty standard in China is a fair and freckle-free(没有雀斑) face with big eyes and high nose bridge. Before _______photos on the social network, many women use photo beatification apps to not only smoothen and whiten their skin but enlarge their eyes_______.It's common for _______ young women to have their freckles removed by laser, or to enlarge their eyes and shave their facial bones with plastic surgeries.

Fair, spotless skin is often connected with being elegant, pure and even _______. Freckles, meanwhile, are considered as dirty, ugly and a sign of ill-health. One of the “funny” comments I've heard, from someone promoting traditional Chinese medicines, was that freckles “are a(n) _______ of a disease.”

This singular definition of beauty can create _______ for those who don't fit within it. I grew up thinking my freckles were _______ by most people. It was not until in college that my attitude changed, and it took another few years _______ I learned to truly love my freckles. I believe they make me _______ and beautiful.

The idea of having a single beauty standard is especially strange for a country as diverse as China. With 56 officially ________ minority groups, beauty here is rich and varied. Thankfully, the ________definition of beauty is slowly improving. The state-run newspaper China Daily took a firm stand and offered its support, with an article calling on people to be culturally confident and ________ what we have naturally.

Hopefully,________,more girls can learn to________ who they are and what they look like and truly love themselves regardless of whether they ________ the traditional standards of beauty.

1.

A．taking

B．posting

C．shooting

D．rating

2.

A．as well

B．in person

C．as a result

D．in short

3.

A．fortunate

B．well-meaning

C．anxious

D．amazing

4.

A．tough

B．healthy

C．confident

D．slim

5.

A．function

B．aspect

C．reflection

D．account

6.

A．problems

B．options

C．details

D．confidence

7.

A．laughed at

B．taken advantage of

C．smoothed out

D．brought out

8.

A．after

B．until

C．before

D．while

9.

A．unique

B．single

C．individual

D．independent

10.

A．acquired

B．gathered

C．respected

D．recognized

11.

A．shallow

B．rough

C．positive

D．passive

12.

A．take in

B．guard against

C．take pride in

D．get over

13.

A．on time

B．over time

C．ahead of time

D．in time

14.

A．acquire

B．achieve

C．address

D．accept

15.

A．live up to

B．respond to

C．rise to

D．make it

6 . My mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s(老年痴呆症) last summer.Suddenly, it was difficult for me to accept that the roles were now reversed-my mother became my child, and I became her mother.I became impatient, argued with her, once I even yelled at her.Gradually, I was used to this kind of life.Now I am able to deal with her and the situation better.I have learned a lot of life lessons from the experience.

My mother reacts very sensitively to my feelings.That is typical of Alzheimer’s patients.When I visit her, feeling busy and tense, she reacts immediately, takes on my mood, and becomes nervous and negative.But when I appear cheerful and attentive, she is happy.This has taught me to pay more attention to my own feelings when I am with other people.

I was thought I was very tolerant( 容 忍 的 ), but in reality, my tolerance ran out as soon as someone turned away from what I considered “right”.With my mother I can now really be tolerant.Through her illness she has developed a childlike tactlessness(不得体).Eating out in restaurants, for example, is a bit embarrassing when she shouts at the waiter that the food is so bad or talks about people at the next table in a loud voice.Of course I make sure that my mother doesn’t offend(冒犯) anyone, but I’ve stopped complaining about others and have become more tolerant.

I have also learned that everything has special value.When my mother got sick, I didn’t want to burden my two daughters with it.They are young and have enough going on with their education and starting their careers.I felt that it was simply my job as my mother’s daughter.The most wonderful discovery I’ve made through my mother’s disease may be that my children not only offer to help me when they sense that I’m feeling overwhelmed, but that they take care of my mother on their own initiative(主动地).They visit her often, play cards with her, and look at photo albums together with her.It shows me that it’s all worth it.

1. Which of the following is common behavior of Alzheimer’s patients?

A．Curiosity about everything.	B．Sensitivity to other’s moods.
C．Fear of strange people.	D．Quick reaction.

2. The underlined word “overwhelmed” in the last paragraph is closest in meaning to        .

A．concerned

B．scared

C．embarrassed

D．stressed

3. We can infer from the passage that        .

A．the writer accepted the role change immediately

B．the writer only paid attention to her mother’s feelings

C．the writer has a great sense of responsibility

D．the daughters took over the responsibility to look after their grandmother

4. This passage is mainly about        .

A．how I cared for my sick mother

B．how I became more tolerant

C．what I have learned from my mother’s illness

D．why I am feeling overwhelmed

7 . By now you’ve probably heard about the “you’re not special” speech, when English teacher David McCullough told graduating seniors at Wellesley High School: “Do not get the idea you’re anything special, because you’re not.” Mothers and fathers present at the ceremony — and a whole lot of other parents across the Internet — took issue with McCullough’s ego-puncturing words. But lost in the uproar was something we really should be taking to heart: our young people actually have no idea whether they’re particularly talented or accomplished or not. In our eagerness to elevate their self-esteem, we forgot to teach them how to realistically assess their own abilities, a crucial requirement for getting better at anything from math to music to sports. In fact, it’s not just privileged high-school students: we all tend to view ourselves as above average.

Such inflated self-judgments have been found in study after study, and it’s often exactly when we’re least competent at a given task that we rate our performance most generously. In a 2006 study published in the journal Medical Education, for example, medical students who scored the lowest on an essay test were the most charitable in their self-evaluations, while high-scoring students judged themselves much more strictly. Poor students, the authors note, “lack insight” into their own inadequacy. Why should this be? Another study, led by Cornell University psychologist David Dunning, offers an enlightening explanation. People who are incompetent, he writes with coauthor Justin Kruger, suffer from a “dual burden”: they’re not good at what they do, and their very incapability prevents them from recognizing how bad they are.

In Dunning and Kruger’s study, subjects scoring at the bottom of the heap on tests of logic, grammar and humor “extremely overestimated” their talents. What these individuals lacked (in addition to clear logic, proper grammar and a sense of humor) was “metacognitive skill”: the capacity to monitor how well they’re performing. In the absence of that capacity, the subjects arrived at an overly hopeful view of their own abilities. There’s a paradox here, the authors note: “The skills that lead to competence in a particular domain are often the very same skills necessary to evaluate competence in that domain.” In other words, to get better at judging how well we’re doing at an activity, we have to get better at the activity itself.

There are a couple of ways out of this double bind. First, we can learn to make honest comparisons with others. Train yourself to recognize excellence, even when you yourself don’t possess it, and compare what you can do against what truly excellent individuals are able to accomplish. Second, seek out feedback that is frequent, accurate and specific. Find a critic who will tell you not only how poorly you’re doing, but just what it is that you’re doing wrong. As Dunning and Kruger note, success indicates to us that everything went right, but failure is more ambiguous: any number of things could have gone wrong. Use this external feedback to figure out exactly where and when you screwed up.

If we adopt these strategies — and most importantly, teach them to our children — they won’t need parents, or a commencement (毕业典礼) speaker, to tell them that they’re special. They’ll already know that they are, or have a plan to get that way.

1. Which can be the best title of this passage?

A．Special or Not? Teach Kids To Figure It Out

B．Let’s Admit That We Are Not That Special

C．Tips On Making Ourselves More Special

D．Tell The Truth: Kids Overestimate their Talents

2. The author thinks the real problem is that ______.

A．we don't know whether our young people are talented or not

B．young people don't know how to assess their abilities realistically

C．no requirement is set up for young people to get better

D．we always tend to consider ourselves to be privileged

3. Which is NOT mentioned about poor students according to the passage?

A．They usually give themselves high scores in self-evaluations.

B．They tend to be unable to know exactly how bad they are.

C．They are intelligently inadequate in tests and exams.

D．They lack the capacity to monitor how well they are performing.

4. We can infer from the passage that those high-scoring students ______.

A．know how to cultivate clear logic and proper grammar

B．tend to underestimate their performance because they know their limits

C．tend to regard themselves as competent due to their strict self-judgement

D．tend to be very competent in judging their performance in their high-scoring fields.

8 . Many people become successful because they pay attention to the lessons that life teaches them.     1     However, by learning to deal with the challenges, one can come out of the experience, wiser, stronger and more able to face whatever else lies ahead.

Life lessons can occur in any area. Although we learn many things each day, we don’t always learn something that we feel will affect our behavior for the rest of our lives.    2    It is usually something we are greatly changed by.

For example, if we respond in a certain way to something and then face unpleasant consequences, we’ll rethink how we handled the situation. This can serve as a life lesson so that when we’re faced with similar circumstances, we can consciously change our behavior.     3    

Such lessons in relationships are as varied and unique as each relationship, yet there are common themes.     4     Some of us learn a major life lesson when a loved one dies, and we wish we had spent more time with that person. This lesson can result in us spending more time with our remaining loved ones.

    5     Since the lesson is learned through the consequences of our actions or reactions, in this way we can gain insight into how we think, act and react in certain situations. Perhaps one of the biggest lessons we can finally learn is that while we can’t control everything, we can control our response to things.

A．Life lessons are unique to each person.

B．Some of these lessons are learned the hard way.

C．This separates a life lesson from everything else we learn.

D．Spending more time with loved ones is one of the examples.

E．Life lessons can serve to help us understand ourselves better.

F．One way to improve your life is to learn something new every day.

G．To put it simply, a life lesson teaches us not to make the same mistake twice.

9 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填人1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

One evening I was going back from a supermarket. As I approached my car, I noticed one person     1     (stand) beside me. He was a person who     2     (consider) as a bum(流浪汉).It seemed     3     he had no car, no home and no job. I expected that he would ask me     4     money, but he didn't. He only said, "Your car is very nice. ”

After several moments of     5     (silent), I asked him if he needed help and his response was astonishing. I will never forget those simple three words that I heard from him, "Don't we all?” It was a true discovery to me. I needed help. Although I had money and a place     6    (sleep), but I recognized that I needed help too. Then I opened my wallet and gave him enough money to get a meal and room to stay in for a day.     7     (sudden), I understood that no matter how much money, achievements, luxury goods(奢侈品)we have, we all need help. And on     8     other hand, no matter how poor you are, how many material     9    (problem) you have, you still might offer your help to others. You still might be giving. Even it's just a nice word, you can give that and it can be     10     (value) to other persons.

10 . 阅读下列材料，在空白出填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的适当形式。

While it’s     1     (absolute) natural and normal for humans to want routine, there’s much to be discovered out of our comfort zones. When we begin to see things differently around us, we can open     2     (us) up to new     3     (possible) and new opportunities and clear out fear. It’s usually, the fear, or the energy of the fear, that is greater than     4     we actually have to do and change.

It’s never too late to change your life. It is especially true to Scott Sharon,     5     54-year-old man like Saint Charles. Saint Charles, who     6     (weigh) 360 pounds in his forties, lost more than 180 pounds after struggling with obesity for several years. Scott didn’t want to spend his whole life being sad, depressed and obese. He couldn’t stand it anymore and he knew     7     he didn’t change, he was going to die. He wanted to be happy, healthy and full of love and life. From that aspect, he started on his journey to change how his mind thought and worked. He walked away from his real estate career to commit his life to     8     (help) others change their lives and overcome their challenges. He became a public speaker. That was 15 years ago and he is now     9     the best physical, mental and     10     (spirit) condition. He weighs 175 pounds and his life and career is helping people create and live out their dreams.